American Horror Story: Coven uses film techniques like jump cuts, close ups, and non-diegetic music to build tension and mystery in its opening credits. Jump cuts between slow and fast-paced music and images startle viewers. Close ups on body parts rather than faces pique curiosity without giving away the plot. Muted colors and grainy filters lend an eerie tone, reflecting the show's supernatural themes and historical flashbacks. Creepy background music and shots of forests and voodoo rituals set the mood for horror without revealing specifics.

1. American Horror Story: COVEN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=mmRXT7w2C1s
-Mary Lawson

2. Editing
In the opening of AHS: Coven a lot of jump cuts are used to raise the tension. For example at 0:49
the music slows and stays on one image then as the music comes into a crescendo a jump shot and
close up makes the audience jump.
A grainy filter has also been used to make the colours dull and muted, this makes it more eerie and
also adds to the contextual factors of the TV show as AHS Coven features flashbacks from the
1900’s.
The credits flash up on the screen as the music gets louder and then they disappear, the effect of
this synchronism between image and audio is that it catches the attention of the audience, making
them aware of the information being presented to them.

3. Camera
Shots of mysterious creatures appearing in the forest are mainly wide angle. This adds to the feel
of curiosity and the unknown. (0:21)
The close up shots used contrast the wide shots, making the audience take notice and want to
see what is being shown to them next. (0:23)
Many of the extreme close ups used are of body parts, rather than faces. This adds to the
mystery that the supernatural theme brings, also as it is just an opening for the TV programme it
does not want to give away too much away about the plot or cast. (0:54)

4. Sound
Non-diegetic sounds are used within the opening, this means that the source of the
sound cannot be seen, in this case it’s background music.
The music fits with jump cuts as every time a new image or credit is shown the music
gets louder. (0:15)
The background music is a classical piece which connotes peace and tranquility in
usual circumstances, however in this context, when matched with the images it gives
an uneasy feel.

5. Mise-en-scene
In the opening we can see lots of mythical creatures and wild animals
throughout a forest, this adds to the supernatural themes that is aiming to be
portrayed. (0:28)
There are also voodoo style activities going on. This shows the audience what
they can expect to see throughout the series without giving away the plot.
(0:43)